Bottled water carrying strap

ABSTRACT

A bottled water carrying strap includes a longitudinally extended strap section and a wrist-engaging loop mounted on one end of the strap section. A bottle neck engagement section is mounted at an opposite end of the strap section which includes at least two generally circular flexible and resilient bottle neck engagement plates each having a center bottle neck engaging hole operative to be stretched to extend around a bottle neck extended therethrough and resiliently attempt to return to its unstretched position to releasably secure the bottle neck therewithin. Each of the bottle neck engagement plates include different inner and outer diameters with each being concentrically mounted generally parallel within each other for use with bottle necks of different diameters. Finally, the bottle neck engagement plates are movably mounted such that upon use of one of them, the other bottle neck engagement plates are movable to generally prevent securement interference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention pertains generally to bottle carrying straps and,more particularly, to bottled water carrying strap including alongitudinally extended strap section, a wrist-engaging loop affixed atone end of the strap section for fitting over the wrist of a user of thepresent invention, and a bottle neck engagement section mounted at theopposite end of the strap section, the bottle neck engagement sectionincluding at least two generally circular bottle neck engagement plateshaving different diameters to engage and releasably secure bottle necksof different diameters therewithin.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The sale of bottled water is a multimillion dollar industry and thepopularity of bottled water continues to grow particularly as theconvenience and taste of the bottled water becomes more widely known. Infact, there are many individuals who almost always carry a bottled watercontainer with them for hydration purposes, particularly in hot climatessuch as Arizona, Nevada, California and Florida. While the availabilityof the bottled water is positive from a health standpoint, it does havesome drawbacks from a convenience viewpoint, specifically in that theperson carrying the bottled water must use one of their hands to carrythe bottled water at all times or put the bottled water down to use bothof their hands for other purposes. This often leads to the bottled waterbeing left behind where it was placed, and thus the benefits of carryingthe bottled water are lost. There is therefore a need for an easy-to-usebottled water carrying strap which can be used by the person carryingthe bottled water to support the bottled water adjacent the hand of theperson yet will still leave the person's hand free for other purposes.

Of course, there are many types of strap devices which are found in theprior art which could potentially be modified for the carrying of awater bottle. In fact, one could merely use a piece of string or ropetied in a knot to form a loop at one end and a loop at the opposite endfor attaching to the water bottle, but such a solution hardly addressesthe need for such a carrying strap to be easy to use and alsocomfortable for the wearer. One of the most difficult problems toovercome in fashioning a bottled water carrying strap, however, is howbest to accommodate the various sizes and shapes of the water bottlesand other liquid refreshment bottles and cans currently on the market.It is clear that merely providing a strap device having a singlediameter bottle engaging section is not sufficient to overcome all ofthe problems presented by the carrying of different sized and shapedwater bottles. However, as more sophisticated and intricate designs foradjustable diameter bottle engagement sections are proposed, one losesthe intended ease of use and relatively inexpensive construction anddesign features required to make such an invention useful to themajority of people. Therefore, there is a need for a bottled watercarrying strap which can accommodate several different sizes of bottles,yet which is easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap which includes a central strap section, awrist engagement section, and a bottle neck engagement section mountedat the opposite end of the strap section from the wrist section suchthat the user may easily carry a water bottle therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap which includes a plurality of bottle neckengagement disks, each having different internal diameters and beingmounted generally concentrically with each other such that the user maychoose the appropriate size to fit over and onto the bottle neck forsupport of the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap which may be used for advertising purposesby affixing logos and/or indicia to the various portions of the carryingstrap in order to enhance the saleability of the bottled water carryingstrap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap which can be used not only with a waterbottle but with many different kinds of liquid refreshment containers,including sports drinks, alcoholic beverages and sodas.

Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled water carrying strap which is relatively simple in design, isrelatively inexpensive to produce, and is safe and efficient in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a bottled water carrying strap includinga longitudinally extended strap section and a wrist-engaging loopmounted on one end of the strap section which is adapted to fit over andonto the wrist of a user of the bottled water carrying strap. A bottleneck engagement section is mounted at an opposite end of the strapsection opposite the wrist-engaging loop, the bottle neck engagementsection including at least two generally circular flexible and resilientbottle neck engagement plates each having a center bottle neck engaginghole operative to be stretched to extend around a bottle neck extendedtherethrough and resiliently attempt to return to its unstretchedposition to releasably secure a bottle neck extended therethrough. Eachof the at least two generally circular bottle neck engagement platesinclude different inner and outer diameters with each beingconcentrically mounted generally parallel with each other with smallerdiameter ones of the at least two generally circular bottle neckengagement plates each movably mounted inside of the next larger of theat least two generally circular bottle neck engagement plates wherebyeach of the at least two generally circular bottle neck engagementplates are operative to engage and releasably secure bottle necks ofdifferent diameters therewithin. Finally, the at least two generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates are movably mounted on the bottleneck engagement section such that upon selection of one of the at leasttwo generally circular bottle neck engagement plates to engage andreleasably secure a bottle neck therein, the others of the at least twogenerally circular bottle neck engagement plates are movable togenerally prevent interference of the others of the at least twogenerally circular bottle neck engagement plates with the selected oneof the at least two generally circular bottle neck engagement plates.

The present invention provides an invaluable improvement over thosecarrying devices found in the prior art. For example, because thecarrying strap of the present invention may be used in connection withmany different sizes of refreshment liquid containers, the beveragetypes which may be selected by the user of the present invention willnot be limited by the design restrictions of the carrying strap. Also,because the wrist section of the present invention may be quickly andeasily slid onto the wrist of the user, the carrying strap of thepresent invention may be easily used under almost any circumstanceswithout requiring a substantial investment of time and/or effort to usethe present invention. Furthermore, because the present invention isintended to be constructed as a single unit which will be preferablystamped out of a plastic sheet material, it will be relativelyinexpensive to produce yet will satisfy the need for a bottled watercarrying device. This in turn means that many more persons will be ableto use the present invention as it will fall within their monetarybudget, as opposed to some of those devices found in the prior art.Finally, because the bottled water carrying strap of the presentinvention is designed for the inclusion of advertising indicia to beprinted thereon, it is expected that distribution of the bottled watercarrying strap in connection with advertising promotions by companiesand individuals will be a major element of the success of the presentinvention. It is therefore seen that the present invention provides asubstantial improvement over those devices found in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottled water carrying strap of thepresent invention being used by a person to support a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottled water carrying strap of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a detail side elevational view of the strap with the bottleneck secured therewithin; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are detail side elevational views of the strap showing thevarious diameters of the generally circular bottle neck engagementplates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The bottled water carrying strap 10 of the present invention is shownbest in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as including three main sections, a strapsection 12, a wrist mount section 30, and a bottle mounting section 40.It should be noted, however, that although the bottled water carryingstrap 10 is described in terms of these three sections, it is intendedthat the bottled water carrying strap 10 be constructed as a singlepiece of generally flexible rubber or plastic material which will beformed by a molding or stamping process understood by one skilled in theart of such construction methods.

In the preferred embodiment, strap section 12 would have a length ofapproximately three to six inches, a width of approximately one-half toone inch, and a thickness of approximately one-eight to one quarter ofan inch, depending on the construction material used and the intendedflexibility and resiliency of the bottled water carrying strap 10. Ofcourse, the specific dimensions of the strap section 12 are not criticalto the present invention so long as the strap section 12 safely andsecurely supports a bottled water container 50 on the wrist of a user ofthe present invention.

Mounted on the upper end of strap section 12 is wrist mount section 30which, in the preferred embodiment, would be constructed as a ring offlexible material which includes a central, generally circular wristhole 32 and an outer ring section 34, as shown best in FIG. 2. In thepreferred embodiment, the wrist hole 32 would have a diameter ofapproximately two to five inches, depending on the size of the wrist andhand onto which the wrist hole 32 is to be placed. Also, the outer ringsection 34 may be designed to lay flat on the wrist of the wearer and beattached to the strap section 12 at a generally perpendicular joint,should such modification be desirable. Of course, it should be notedthat the exact sizes and shapes of the wrist hole 32 and outer ringsection 34 are not critical to the present invention so long as thewrist hole 32 may fit over and onto the wrist of the individual carryingthe water bottle in a comfortable yet reasonably secure manner. To thisend, it may be desirable to line the inside of the wrist hole 32 with asofter material such as fabric or the like to increase the comfort levelof the individual wearing the bottled water carrying strap 10 of thepresent invention, although such modification is not critical to thefunctionality of the present invention. Also, a slight “rolling” of theinner edge of outer ring section 34 adjacent wrist hole 32(approximately 10% to 15%) to form a curved inner portion of the outerring section 34 will also increase the comfort level of the individualwearing the bottled water carrying strap 10 of the present invention,and the process for incorporating such rolling of the constructionmaterial is known in the field of art.

Mounted at the opposite end of strap section 12 is bottle mountingsection 40 which, in the preferred embodiment, would be formed as a setof concentric discs or plates set in generally coplanar alignment, asshown best in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. Each of these bottle neck engagementplates 42 a, 42 b, 42 c and 42 d would each include a center bottle neckengagement hole 44 a, 44 b, 44 c and 44 d and an outer bottle securementring 46 a, 46 b, 46 c and 46 d, thus making each of the bottle neckengagement plates 42 a-c generally identical to one another, except interms of diameter. The different diameters are designated by the symbols“D₁”, “D₂”, “D₃” and “D₄”, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

It is further preferred that each of the interior bottle neck engagementplates 42 b, 42 c and 42 d be connected at the upper end thereof to thestrap section 12, as shown best in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, such that eachbottle neck engagement plate 42 b, 42 c and 42 d may be pivoted at thatconnection point out of coplanar alignment with the remaining bottleneck engagement plates 42 a-d in order to permit use of each bottle neckengagement plate 42 a-d independently of the other bottle neckengagement plates 42 a-d.

The purpose for this is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as the bottleneck engagement plates 42 a-d are adapted to conform to different sizedbottle necks 52 on water bottles 50, thus permitting the bottled watercarrying strap 10 of the present invention to be used with a widevariety of water bottles 50 and, in addition, other types of liquidcontainers which would be carried by a person for drinking purposes,such as sport drinks, alcoholic drinks and the like.

In practice, the bottled water carrying strap 10 of the presentinvention would be used in the following manner. First of all, thebottle neck engagement plate 42 a-d having the appropriately sizedbottle securement ring 46 a-d and hence bottle neck engagement hole 44a-d would be selected and the bottle neck engagement hole 44 a-d wouldbe fitted over and onto the bottle neck 52 of the water bottle 50, asshown in FIG. 3. The flexible nature of the construction material usedfor the bottle neck engagement plate 42 a-d permits the bottle neckengagement hole 44 a-d to deform and expand to fit over the bottle neck52 and, once placed over the bottle neck 52, the bottle neck engagementhole 44 a-d resumes its original shape to releasably yet securely mountthe bottle neck engagement hole 44 a-d on the bottle neck 52. The userof the bottled water carrying strap 10 would then fit the wrist mountsection 30 onto his or her wrist by sliding the wrist hole 32 over theirhand onto the wrist where it is securely yet comfortably retained.Finally, due to the length of the strap section 12, the user of thebottled water carrying strap 10 of the present invention may quickly andeasily grasp the water bottle 50, yet also merely release the waterbottle 50 as shown in FIG. 1 to permit it to dangle from his or herwrist until such time as the water bottle 50 is needed for rehydrationpurposes.

Finally, it should be noted and emphasized that one of the benefits ofthe bottled water carrying strap 10 of the present invention is that itmay be easily adapted for advertising purposes by having a logo or nameof a company printed on the strap section 12 or wrist mount section 30,thus identifying the bottled water carrying strap 10 with a particularcompany or person. Of course, the inclusion of advertising does not inand of itself add a protectable feature to the present invention, butthe inclusion of advertising on the strap section 12 or wrist mountsection 30 is expected to greatly increase the saleability of thebottled water carrying strap 10 and improve its use as a promotionaltool for companies and individuals. The number of logos and names whichmay be affixed to the bottled water carrying strap 10 of the presentinvention is virtually unlimited and such advertising use would beunderstood by one skilled in the art of affixing advertising logos toproducts.

It is to be understood that numerous additions, modifications, andsubstitutions may be made to the bottled water carrying strap 10 of thepresent invention which fall within the intended broad scope of theabove description. For example, the construction materials used inconnection with the present invention and the specific size, shape, andappearance of the bottled water carrying strap 10 may be modified orchanged so long as the functional characteristics of the presentinvention are maintained. Furthermore, the number of bottle neckengagement plates 42 a-d which may be included with the presentinvention is limited only by the intended size of the bottle mountingsection 40, and thus it may be advantageous to include five, six, oreven more different sizes of bottle neck engagement plates 42 a-d inorder to accommodate as many different sizes and shapes of water bottlenecks 52 as is practicable. Also, it may be desirable to include a beltloop or the like for releasably securing the bottled water carryingstrap 10 on a belt or elsewhere on the wearer, should such amodification prove worthwhile. Finally, although the present inventionhas been described for use in connection with water bottles, it shouldbe noted that virtually any type of bottle, can, or other such liquidcontainer may be carried by the present invention so long as the bottleneck engagement holes 44 a-d deform and fit over the appropriatesecurement location on the liquid container.

There has therefore been shown and described a bottled water carryingstrap 10 which accomplishes at least all of its intended purposes.

1. A bottled water carrying strap comprising: a longitudinally extendedstrap section; a wrist-engaging loop mounted on one end of said strapsection adapted to fit over and onto the wrist of a user of said bottledwater carrying strap; a bottle neck engagement section mounted at anopposite end of said strap section opposite said wrist-engaging loop;said bottle neck engagement section including at least two generallycircular flexible and resilient bottle neck engagement plates eachhaving a center bottle neck engaging hole operative to be stretched toextend around a bottle neck extended therethrough and resilientlyattempt to return to its unstretched position to releasably secure abottle neck extended therethrough; each of said at least two generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates having different inner and outerdiameters with each being concentrically mounted generally parallel witheach other with smaller diameter ones of said at least two generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates each movably mounted inside ofthe next larger of said at least two generally circular bottle neckengagement plates whereby each of said at least two generally circularbottle neck engagement plates are operative to engage and releasablysecure bottle necks of different diameters therewithin; and said atleast two generally circular bottle neck engagement plates being movablymounted on said bottle neck engagement section such that upon selectionof one of said at least two generally circular bottle neck engagementplates to engage and releasably secure a bottle neck therein, the othersof said at least two generally circular bottle neck engagement platesare movable to generally prevent interference of said others of said atleast two generally circular bottle neck engagement plates with saidselected one of said at least two generally circular bottle neckengagement plates.
 2. The bottled water carrying strap of claim 1wherein said wrist-engaging loop comprises a ring of flexible andresilient material having a central wrist hole and an outer ringsection.
 3. The bottled water carrying strap of claim 2 wherein saidwrist-engaging loop further includes advertising indicia imprinted onsaid strap section for promotion of at least one of a specified entityand event.
 4. The bottled water carrying strap of claim 1 wherein saidstrap section is generally flat and further includes advertising indiciaimprinted on said strap section for promotion of at least one of aspecified entity and event.
 5. The bottled water carrying strap of claim1 wherein each of said at least two generally circular bottle neckengagement plates of said bottle neck engagement section, excepting theoutermost one of said at least two generally circular bottle neckengagement plates, are connected at a pivot location at a sectionadjacent said strap section to said strap section such that each of saidconnected at least two generally circular bottle neck engagement platesmay be pivoted at said pivot location out of coplanar alignment with theremaining ones of said at least two bottle neck engagement plates suchthat each of said at least two generally circular bottle neck engagementplates are usable independently of the remaining ones of said at leasttwo generally circular bottle neck engagement plates.
 6. The bottledwater carrying strap of claim 1 wherein said at least two generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates are adapted to conform todifferent sized bottle necks of a majority of types of liquid containerswhich would be carried by a person for drinking purposes, such as sportdrinks, alcoholic drinks and hydrating drinks.
 7. The bottled watercarrying strap of claim 2 wherein said outer ring section furthercomprises a partial curved inner portion on the inner edge of said outerring section adjacent said central wrist hole to generally prevent saidinner edge from uncomfortably engaging the wrist of a wearer of saidbottled water carrying strap.
 8. A bottled water carrying strapcomprising: a longitudinally extended strap section; a wrist-engagingloop mounted on one end of said strap section adapted to fit over andonto the wrist of a user of said bottled water carrying strap; a bottleneck engagement section mounted at an opposite end of said strap sectionopposite said wrist-engaging loop; said bottle neck engagement sectionincluding at least three generally circular flexible and resilientbottle neck engagement plates each having a center bottle neck engaginghole operative to be stretched to extend around a bottle neck extendedtherethrough and resiliently attempt to return to its unstretchedposition to releasably secure a bottle neck extended therethrough; eachof said at least three generally circular bottle neck engagement plateshaving different inner and outer diameters with each beingconcentrically mounted generally parallel with each other with smallerdiameter ones of said at least three generally circular bottle neckengagement plates each movably mounted inside of the next larger of saidat least three generally circular bottle neck engagement plates wherebyeach of said at least three generally circular bottle neck engagementplates are operative to engage and releasably secure bottle necks ofdifferent diameters therewithin; and each of said at least threegenerally circular bottle neck engagement plates of said bottle neckengagement section, excepting the outermost one of said at least twogenerally circular bottle neck engagement plates, being connected at apivot location to one of said bottle neck engagement section and saidstrap section such that each of said connected at least three generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates are pivotable at said pivotlocation out of coplanar alignment with the remaining ones of said atleast three bottle neck engagement plates such that each of said atleast three generally circular bottle neck engagement plates are usableindependently of the remaining ones of said at least three generallycircular bottle neck engagement plates.
 9. The bottled water carryingstrap of claim 8 wherein said wrist-engaging loop comprises a ring offlexible and resilient material having a central wrist hole and an outerring section.
 10. The bottled water carrying strap of claim 9 whereinsaid wrist-engaging loop further includes advertising indicia imprintedon said strap section for promotion of at least one of a specifiedentity and event.
 11. The bottled water carrying strap of claim 8wherein said strap section is generally flat and further includesadvertising indicia imprinted on said strap section for promotion of atleast one of a specified entity and event.
 12. The bottled watercarrying strap of claim 8 wherein said at least three generally circularbottle neck engagement plates are adapted to conform to different sizedbottle necks of a majority of types of liquid containers which would becarried by a person for drinking purposes, such as sport drinks,alcoholic drinks and hydrating drinks.
 13. The bottled water carryingstrap of claim 9 wherein said outer ring section further comprises apartial curved inner portion on the inner edge of said outer ringsection adjacent said central wrist hole to generally prevent said inneredge from uncomfortably engaging the wrist of a wearer of said bottledwater carrying strap.